Written Answers Wednesday 24 March 2010

Scottish Executive

Additional Support Needs

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the national guidelines are regarding the transfer of social work services for children with additional support needs between local authorities.

Adam Ingram: Under the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004, the local authority with responsibility for the child’s or young person’s education is under a duty to deliver any social work support services if that child or young person requires such support to benefit from school education. Where a child transfers to another local authority area, the duty to provide appropriate social work services, where required, falls to the receiving authority.

Additional Support Needs

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason a re-assessment of someone with additional support needs who moves from one local authority area to another is necessary when they have already been assessed by a professional in their previous local authority.

Adam Ingram: Under the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004, "additional support" is defined as support that is different in some way from that generally provided for children of the same age in pre-school centres and schools in the area to which the child or young person belongs. It is for the receiving local authority to determine what, if any, additional support for learning may be required for someone moving into their area.

Additional Support Needs

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the maximum waiting time is for someone with additional support needs who has moved from one local authority area to another to be assessed by their new local authority.

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting time is for someone with additional support needs who has moved from one local authority area to another to be assessed by their new local authority.

Adam Ingram: This information requested is not held centrally.

  The Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 (the 2004 act) places education authorities under a duty to make adequate and efficient provision for the additional support needs of every child and young person for whose school education they are responsible and who requires additional support for learning.

  Under the 2004 act, there are only specified timescales for re-assessing those children and young people with additional support needs who have a co-ordinated support plan. For such persons, the maximum time for reviewing a plan following a move from one local authority area to another is 20 weeks.

  It is important to note that if a parent or young person is unhappy with the level of provision being offered by their new authority, the 2004 act provides mechanisms for resolving disagreements.

Buildings

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the reason is for the time it has taken to consider the reporter’s report on the listed building status of the Odeon Cinema in Clerk Street in Edinburgh and when it will announce its decision.

Stewart Stevenson: Due to the complex nature of the issues involved which require very careful consideration it has not been possible to reach a decision within the three month target period.

  Whilst any delay in dealing with this cases is regretted it is not possible to say, at this stage, when a final decision will be made.

Central Heating

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the £60 million allocated to the Energy Assistance Package was spent by the end of February 2010.

Alex Neil: The following table shows the spend to the end of February for the various elements of the £60 million package of support, as set out in my answer to question S3W-21692 on 1 April 2009. As Minister for Housing and Communities I have responsibility for the Fuel Poverty Budget and anticipate that the budget for 2009-10 will be spent. I will of course, report the out turn figures in due course.

  

 
Budget 2009 -10
Spend to 28 February 2010


Fuel Poverty budget (including additional £3.6 million for running the ESSac network, and £2.5 million for local authorities and registered social landlords to fund social sector Stage 3 measures)
£50.6 million
£24.8 million


Current £3.9 million for running the Energy Savings Scotland Advice Centre (ESSac) network.
£3.9 million
£3.2 million


Achieving our Potential budget, formerly Tackling poverty 
£2.5 million
£1.2 million


Energy Savings Scotland Home Renewables Grant (formerly known as the Scottish Communities and Households Renewables Initiative)
£3.5 million
£1.9 million



  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Climate Change

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-29958 by Stewart Stevenson on 14 January 2010, what changes ministers, particularly the First Minister, have made in their ministerial activities to contribute to its climate change targets.

John Swinney: Scottish ministers, and in particular the First Minister, have shown extremely strong leadership on the energy and climate change agenda. The First Minister wrote to the UN Secretary-General to highlight Scotland’s commitment to tackling climate change, launched the 2020 Climate Delivery Group and represented Scotland in Copenhagen during the UNFCCC climate conference, including signing a joint statement with the President of the Maldives and addressing The Climate Group’s Climate Leaders Summit of over 60 state and regional government ministers.

  Scottish ministers are committed to the low carbon economy and the world-leading targets set out in the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 provide certainty for businesses and communities to plan for the low carbon future.

  The Scottish Government is showing the way on renewable development and since May 2007 ministers have approved 29 large scale renewable energy projects contributing to a total installed and consented renewables capacity for Scotland of just under 7 GW. The pace and momentum set by the Scottish Government continues with a further 26 large scale renewable energy projects applications currently under consideration. The Crown Estate’s recent announcement for the world’s first commercial scale leasing round for wave and tidal energy in the Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters has the potential to deliver as much as 1.2 GW of marine energy off Scotland’s north coast, with significant associated economic benefits.

  The Scottish Government launched the £10 million Saltire Prize and has tripled funding for micro and community generation with £13.5 million available per year. In October 2009, we launched £2 million pathfinder Energy Saving Scotland Home Loans. We committed £15 million to a new Home Insulation Scheme targeting 100,000 homes in 10 local authority areas in 2009-10. As part of the Scottish Government’s recent budget, this will be increased in 2010-11 from £15 million to £25 million. The Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 places a duty on local authorities to establish council tax discount schemes for Scots who install energy efficient measures in their homes. The Scottish Government is spending almost £2.4 billion over three years on greener transport. Scottish ministers have pledged to plant 100 million trees by 2015 as part of The Climate Group States and Regions Alliance commitment to plant 1 billion trees to encourage governments, businesses and communities worldwide to plant a tree for each person on the planet. The 100 million trees would, over their lifetime, absorb around a year of Scotland’s current emissions.

Further and Higher Education

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it has made in its review of discretionary childcare funding for students at further and higher education institutions.

Michael Russell: The review of funding arrangements for childcare in further and higher education is making good progress, in line with our plans. A questionnaire was issued to the principals and funding officers at all colleges and universities across Scotland. The responses are now being analysed and we will shortly be consulting the sector again on the proposed options.

Further and Higher Education

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whom it is consulting in its review of discretionary childcare funding for students at further and higher education institutions.

Michael Russell: In order to best inform the review of funding arrangements for childcare in further and higher education we are consulting with a wide range of stakeholders. These include, but are not limited to:

  Scotland’s Colleges

  Universities Scotland

  The Scottish Funding Council

  Principals and Funding Officers at all Colleges and Universities

  Further Education Student Support Advisory Group (FESSAG)

  NUS Scotland.

Further and Higher Education

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish the results of its review of discretionary childcare funding for students at further and higher education institutions.

Michael Russell: It is the intention that the review of funding arrangements for childcare in further and higher education will be concluded by late summer with any relevant findings or outcomes published shortly thereafter.

Further and Higher Education

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will announce any actions that it will take following its review of discretionary childcare funding at further and higher education institutions.

Michael Russell: It is the intention that the review of funding arrangements for childcare in further and higher education will be concluded by late summer with any relevant actions to be taken announced shortly after, for implementation in academic year 2011-12.

Glasgow Airport Rail Link

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-31079 by Stewart Stevenson on 4 February 2010, what the basis is of the assertion that the projects listed had a higher benefit cost ratio than the Glasgow Airport Rail Link (GARL), given that the published figures are GARL, 1.28, Borders, 1.36, Edinburgh to Glasgow Improvements Programme, 1.10, Airdrie to Bathgate, 1.81, Edinburgh Trams 1, 1.21, and Edinburgh Trams 2, 1.40.

Stewart Stevenson: The business case for all major transport projects is reviewed and updated on a regular basis as more information becomes available on costs, benefits and the wider impacts considered within the Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance. This helps improve the robustness of forecasts and ensure projects continue to offer value for money and meet their objectives.

  The original Benefit Cost Ratio (BCR) of 1.28 was at the point of the GARL Bill submission in 2006 but in September 2009 at the point of cancellation the BCR had reduced to 1.1. This was due to the formulation of more fully informed costs for the project.

Heritage

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will fund a full-time co-ordinator for the New Lanark World Heritage Site and, if so, when the appointment will take place.

Fiona Hyslop: Historic Scotland has previously funded the position of a full time co-ordinator for New Lanark World Heritage Site and is committed to funding a post to develop the World Heritage Site Management Plan. Discussions between Historic Scotland, New Lanark Trust and South Lanarkshire Council regarding the co-ordinator post and the timing of the appointment are ongoing.

Heritage

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what it would cost to fund a full-time co-ordinator for the New Lanark World Heritage Site.

Fiona Hyslop: The estimated cost of funding a full time co-ordinator for New Lanark World Heritage Site is £45,000 per annum. This figure takes into account the annual salary, National Insurance and superannuation contributions.

Heritage

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many world heritage sites have a full-time co-ordinator funded by the Scottish Government.

Fiona Hyslop: Historic Scotland fully funds a full time co-ordinator for the Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage Site. They also plan to provide funding to support posts for the Antonine Wall and New Lanark World Heritage Site.

Heritage

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what financial support has been given to New Lanark World Heritage Site since 2007.

Fiona Hyslop: Since 2007 Historic Scotland has provided New Lanark World Heritage Site with £974,300.00 of financial support. Furthermore, as one of the three main partners involved in the management and preservation of New Lanark, Historic Scotland provides advice and support on the management of the Site as well as exercising its statutory functions to ensure the preservation of the World Heritage Site.

Homelessness

Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish the final version of the Draft Guidance for meeting the best interests of children facing homelessness , published on 20 March 2009.

Alex Neil: The final version of the Draft Guidance will be published by the end of June. This follows a consultation period which ended in June last year and the release of the National Statistics which shows the impact of the draft guidance. It should be noted that the recent release (23 March 2010) shows that local authorities are following the principles of the draft guidance in that, at 31 December 2009, there has been a reduction in households with children in temporary accommodation compared to the same date in 2008. There has also been a marked decrease in breaches of the 2004 Unsuitable Accommodation Order with there being 11 breaches on 31 December 2009, compared with 58 for the same quarter in 2008.

Housing

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to consult prior to the publication of the white paper on housing policy referred to in the news release of 16 March 2010, Housing reform essential .

Alex Neil: In May, the Scottish Government will publish a discussion document to launch a wide-ranging debate on how we meet the challenges facing housing over the next five years and beyond.

Justice

James Kelly (Glasgow Rutherglen) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many fixed penalty notices have been issued in relation to antisocial behaviour offences in the last three years and in how many of these cases (a) the penalty was paid within the requested timescale, (b) the offender did not pay and (c) enforcement action was sought, broken down by police force area.

The Executive has supplied the following corrected answer:

Fergus Ewing: The following table shows the number of police fixed penalty notices for antisocial behaviour offences issued in 2007, 2008 and 2009.

  Police Fixed Penalty Notices for Antisocial Behaviour Offences

  

Police Force
2007(i)
2008
2009


Central Scotland
1,044
1,961
1,831


Dumfries and Galloway
591
652
615


Fife
1,250
1,936
1,985


Grampian
1,134
2,756
2,485


Lothian and Borders
N/A
2,351(ii)
6,871


Northern
277(iii)
1,552
1,572


Strathclyde
3,204(iv)
27,219
38,361


Tayside
3513
3,793
3,134



  Source: Association of Chief Police Officers Scotland.

  Notes:

  (i) All figures in this column from April 2007 to December 2007 inclusive, unless shown.

  (ii) Figures from April 2008 to December 2008 only.

  (iii) Figures from August 2007 to December 2007 only.

  (iv) Figures from October 2007 to December 2007 only.

  Information relating to the recovery and enforcement of financial penalties, including antisocial behaviour fixed penalties, is now published in reports on the Scottish Court Service website. This can be accessed at www.scotcourts.gov.uk/payyourfine. Please note that this is not directly comparable with the table above as, while there is some local data, the SCS took over responsibility for the recovery and enforcement of antisocial behaviour fixed penalties in the Sheriffdoms of North Strathclyde and South Strathclyde, Dumfries and Galloway only in December 2009 and February 2010 respectively.

Ministerial Meetings

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings took place between Scottish and UK ministers in 2009; what topics were discussed, and who initiated the meetings.

Fiona Hyslop: The following table outlines meetings held between Scottish and UK Ministers during 2009. However, we do not hold a record of who initiated the meetings.

  

Minister
Date
Topic
UK Government Ministers


Alex Salmond First Minister
13 November 2009
British Irish Council
Peter Hain, Secretary of State for Wales Paul Goggins, Minister of State for Northern Ireland


 
16 September 2009
Joint Ministerial Committee (Plenary)
Gordon Brown, Prime Minister Jack Straw, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice Liam Byrne, Chief Secretary to the TreasuryIan Pearson, Economic Secretary to Treasury Peter Hain, Secretary of State for Wales Jim Murphy, Secretary of State for Scotland Shaun Woodward, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland


 
7 September 2009
Economic Summit
Jim Murphy, Secretary of State for Scotland


 
23 June 2009
Pre-cabinet presentation
Jim Murphy, Secretary of State for Scotland


 
11 March 2009
Economic Summit
Jim Murphy, Secretary of State for Scotland


 
25-26 February 2009
UK and Scottish Issues
Jack Straw, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice


 
25 February 2009
UK and Scottish Issues
Gordon Brown, Prime Minister Jack Straw, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice


 
19-20 February 2009
British Irish Council
Paul Murphy, Secretary of State for Wales


Nicola Sturgeon - Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing
10 December 2009
UK and Scottish Issues
Andy Burnham, Secretary of State for Health


 
2 December 2009
UK and Scottish Issues
Andy Burnham, Secretary of State for Health


 
18 November 2009
COBRA
Cabinet Civil Contingencies Committee


 
18 November 2009
UK and Scottish Issues
Andy Burnham, Secretary of State for Health 


 
12 November 2009
UK and Scottish Issues
Andy Burnham, Secretary of State for Health


 
28 October 2009
UK and Scottish Issues
Andy Burnham, Secretary of State for Health


 
21 October 2009
UK and Scottish Issues
Andy Burnham, Secretary of State for Health


 
14 October 2009
UK and Scottish Issues
Andy Burnham, Secretary of State for Health


 
12 October 2009
UK and Scottish Issues
Andy Burnham, Secretary of State for Health


 
8 October 2009
COBRA
Cabinet Civil Contingencies Committee


 
8 October 2009
UK and Scottish Issues
Andy Burnham, Secretary of State for Health


 
1 October 2009
UK and Scottish Issues
Andy Burnham, Secretary of State for Health


 
23 September 2009
UK and Scottish Issues
Andy Burnham, Secretary of State for Health


 
17 September 2009
UK and Scottish Issues
Andy Burnham, Secretary of State for Health


 
9 September 2009
UK and Scottish Issues
Andy Burnham, Secretary of State for Health


 
2 September 2009
COBRA
Cabinet Civil Contingencies Committee


 
2 September 2009
UK and Scottish Issues
Andy Burnham, Secretary of State for Health


 
19 August 2009
UK and Scottish Issues
Andy Burnham, Secretary of State for Health


 
13 August 2009
COBRA
Cabinet Civil Contingencies Committee


 
13 August 2009
UK and Scottish Issues
Andy Burnham, Secretary of State for Health


 
12 August 2009
UK and Scottish Issues
Andy Burnham, Secretary of State for Health


 
8 August 2009
COBRA
Cabinet Civil Contingencies Committee


 
30 July 2009
COBRA
Cabinet Civil Contingencies Committee


 
29 July 2009
UK and Scottish Issues
Andy Burnham, Secretary of State for Health


 
16 July 2009
COBRA
Cabinet Civil Contingencies Committee


 
15 July 2009
UK and Scottish Issues
Andy Burnham, Secretary of State for Health


 
8 July 2009
UK and Scottish Issues
Andy Burnham, Secretary of State for Health


 
1 July 2009
UK and Scottish Issues
Andy Burnham, Secretary of State for Health 


 
1 July 2009
COBRA
Cabinet Civil Contingencies Committee


 
30 June 2009
UK and Scottish Issues
Andy Burnham, Secretary of State for Health 


 
24 June 2009
UK and Scottish Issues
Andy Burnham, Secretary of State for Health


 
24 June 2009
COBRA
Andy Burnham, Secretary of State for Health


 
23 June 2009
UK and Scottish Issues
Andy Burnham, Secretary of State for Health


 
23 June 2009
Pre-cabinet presentation
Jim Murphy, Secretary of State for Scotland


 
18 June 2009
UK and Scottish Issues
Andy Burnham, Secretary of State for Health


 
17 June 2009
UK and Scottish Issues
Andy Burnham, Secretary of State for Health


 
10 June 2009
UK and Scottish Issues
Andy Burnham, Secretary of State for Health


 
3 June 2009
COBRA
Cabinet Civil Contingencies Committee


 
27 May 2009
COBRA
Cabinet Civil Contingencies Committee


 
21 May 2009
COBRA
Cabinet Civil Contingencies Committee


 
19 May 2009
UK and Scottish Issues
Alan Johnson, Secretary of State for Health


 
13 May 2009
UK and Scottish Issues
Alan Johnson, Secretary of State for Health


 
13 May 2009
COBRA
Cabinet Civil Contingencies Committee


 
12 May 2009
UK and Scottish Issues
Alan Johnson, Secretary of State for Health


 
12 May 2009
COBRA
Cabinet Civil Contingencies Committee


 
2 May 2009
COBRA
Cabinet Civil Contingencies Committee


 
30 April 2009
COBRA
Cabinet Civil Contingencies Committee


 
28 April 2009
COBRA 
Cabinet Civil Contingencies Committee


 
27 April 2009
UK and Scottish Issues
Alan Johnston, Secretary of State for Health


 
11 March 2009
UK and Scottish Issues
Stephen Timms, Minister of State for Employment and Welfare Reform


 
11 March 2009
Joint Ministerial Committee(Domestic)
Paul Murphy, Secretary of State for Wales Tony McNulty, Minister of State for Employment and Welfare Reform Paul Goggins, Minister of State for Northern Ireland Ann McKechin, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Scotland


 
20 February 2009
British Irish Council
Paul Murphy, Secretary of State for Wales


From 1 Dec Michael Russell - Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning
 
 
 


Michael Russell, Minister for Culture, External Affairs and the Constitution
12-13 November 2009
British Irish Council
Peter Hain, Secretary of State for Wales Paul Goggins, Minister of State for Northern Ireland


 
9 November 2009
UK and Scottish Issues
Phil Woolas, Minister of State for Borders and Immigration Ann McKechin, Parliamentary Under Secretary for State for Scotland


 
2 November 2009
UK and Scottish Issues
Sion Simon, Parliamentary Under Secretary for Culture, Media and Sport


 
16 September 2009
Joint Ministerial Committee (Plenary)
Gordon Brown, Prime Minister Jack Straw, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice Liam Byrne, Chief Secretary to the TreasuryIan Pearson, Economic Secretary to Treasury Peter Hain, Secretary of State for Wales Jim Murphy, Secretary of State for Scotland Shaun Woodward, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland


 
23 June 2009
Pre-cabinet presentation
Jim Murphy, Secretary of State for Scotland


 
8 June 2009
Joint Ministerial Committee (Europe)
Caroline Flint, Minister of State for Europe Peter Hain, Secretary of State for Wales David Lammy, Minister of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills Stephen Timms, Financial Secretary to the Treasury Lord Davidson, Advocate General Helen Goodman, Assistant Chief Whip Lord Bach, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Justice Delyth Morgan, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families Ann McKechin, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Scotland Mike O’Brien, Minister of State for Energy and Climate Change Kitty Ussher, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Geoff Hoon, Secretary of State for Transport


 
13 May 2009
Joint Ministerial Committee (Domestic)
Paul Murphy, Secretary of State for Wales Phil Woolas, Minister for Immigration, Home Office Paul Goggins, Minister of State for Northern Ireland Ann McKechin, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Scotland Wayne David, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Wales


 
11 March 2009
Joint Ministerial Committee (Domestic)
Paul Murphy, Secretary of State for Wales Tony McNulty, Minister of State for Employment and Welfare Reform Paul Goggins, Minister of State for Northern Ireland Ann McKechin, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Scotland


 
10 March 2009
UK and Scottish Issues
Barbara Follett, Parliamentary Under Secretary for Culture, Media and Sport


 
9 March 2009
UK and Scottish Issues
Lord Stephen Carter, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform jointly with Department for Culture, Media and Sport


 
9 March 2009
Joint Ministerial Committee (Europe)
Caroline Flint, Minister of State for EuropeDavid Miliband, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Geoff Hoon, Secretary of State for Transport Gareth Thomas, Minister of State for International Development Jack Straw, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice Ian Pearson, Economic Secretary to the Treasury and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Economics and Business Paul Murphy, Secretary of State for Wales Office Baroness Scotland of Asthal, Attorney General Helen Goodman, Assistant Chief Whip Mike O’Brien, Minister of State for Energy and Climate Change Lord Davidson, Advocate General Phil Woolas, Minister of State, Home Office Barbara Follett, Minister of State for Culture Media and Sport Dawn Primarolo, Minister of State for Health Ann McKechin, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Scotland David Lammy, Minister of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills Kitty Ussher, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Work and Pension Delyth Morgan, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families


 
20 February 2009
British Irish Council
Paul Murphy, Secretary of State for Wales


John Swinney - Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth
23 June 2009
UK and Scottish Issues
Jim Murphy, Secretary of State for Scotland


 
12 March 2009
UK and Scottish Issues
Yvette Cooper, Chief Secretary to the Treasury Jim Murphy, Secretary of State for Scotland Wayne David, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Wales 


 
11 March 2009
UK and Scottish Issues
Jim Murphy, Secretary of State for Scotland


 
4 March 2009
UK and Scottish Issues
Yvette Cooper, Chief Secretary to the Treasury Jim Murphy, Secretary of State for Scotland 


Kenny MacAskill - Cabinet Secretary for Justice
1 July 2009
UK and Scottish Issues
Yvette Cooper, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions


 
23 June 2009
Pre-cabinet presentation
Jim Murphy, Secretary of State for Scotland


 
9 March 2009
UK and Scottish Issues
Jacqui Smith, Secretary of State for the Home Department


 
11 February 2009
UK and Scottish Issues
Ann McKechin, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Scotland Bridget Prentice, Parliamentary Under Secretary for Justice Bob Ainsworth, Minister of State for Defence


Richard Lochhead - Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment
14-16 December 2009
EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council
Huw Irranca-Davies, Parliamentary Under Secretary for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs


 
8 December 2009
UK and Scottish Issues
Hilary Benn, Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs


 
8 December 2009
UK and Scottish Issues 
Huw Irranca-Davies, Parliamentary Under Secretary for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs


 
26 November 2009
UK and Scottish Issues
Huw Irranca-Davies, Parliamentary Under Secretary for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs


 
20 November 2009
EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council 
Huw Irranca-Davies, Parliamentary Under Secretary for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs


 
16 November 2009
UK and Scottish Issues
Huw Irranca-Davies, Parliamentary Under Secretary for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 


 
4 November 2009
Inter-RAC Conference on Common Fisheries Policy
Huw Irranca-Davies, Parliamentary Under Secretary for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs


 
28 October 2009
UK and Scottish Issues
Huw Irranca-Davies, Parliamentary Under Secretary for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs


 
19 October 2009
EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council 
Huw Irranca-Davies, Parliamentary Under Secretary for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsJim Fitzpatrick, Minister of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs


 
8 October 2009
UK and Scottish Issues
Huw Irranca-Davies, Parliamentary Under Secretary for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs


 
7 October 2009
UK and Scottish Issues
Huw Irranca-Davies, Parliamentary Under Secretary for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs


 
13 July 2009
UK and Scottish Issues
Jim Fitzpatrick, Minister for State for Farming and the Environment


 
22-23 June 2009
EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council
Jim Fitzpatrick, Minister for State for Farming and the Environment


 
25 May 2009
UK and Scottish Issues
Huw Irranca-Davies, Parliamentary Under Secretary for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs


 
11 May 2009
UK and Scottish Issues
Jane Kennedy, Minister of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs


 
23-24 April 2009
 EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council
Huw Irranca-Davies, Parliamentary Under Secretary for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsJane Kennedy, Minister of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs


 
23-24 March 2009
EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council 
Jane Kennedy, Minister of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 


 
10 March 2009
UK and Scottish Issues
Hilary Benn, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs


 
4 March 2009
UK and Scottish Issues
Huw Irranca-Davies, Parliamentary Under Secretary for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs


 
6 January 2009
UK and Scottish Issues
Hilary Benn, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs


Adam Ingram - Minister for Children & Early Years
15 June 2009
UK and Scottish Issues
Baroness Delyth Morgan of Drefelin, Parliamentary Under Secretary for Children, Schools and Families


Fergus Ewing - Minister for Community Safety
Nil
Nil
- 


From 1 Dec Fiona Hyslop - Minister for Culture and External Affairs
1 December 2009
Joint Ministerial Committee (Europe)
David Miliband, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Office Chris Bryant, Parliamentary Under Secretary for Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Minister for Europe Huw Irranca-Davies, Parliamentary Under Secretary for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsHelen Goodman, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Peter Hain, Secretary of State for WalesLord Davidson, Advocate GeneralJohn Spellar, Comptroller of the Household Meg Hillier, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Home Office Joan Ruddock, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Ann McKechin, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Scotland 


Fiona Hyslop - Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning.
17 November 2009
UK and Scottish Issues
Yvette Cooper, Secretary of State for Work and PensionsEd Balls, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families


 
11 September 2009
UK and Scottish Issues
Ed Balls, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families


 
10 September 2009
UK and Scottish Issues
David Lammy, Minister for Higher Education


 
7 September 2009
UK and Scottish Issues
Jim Murphy, Secretary of State for Scotland


 
25 August 2009
UK and Scottish Issues
Jim Knight, Minister for Employment and Welfare Reform


 
23 June 2009
Pre-cabinet presentation
Jim Murphy, Secretary of State for Scotland


 
9 February 2009
UK and Scottish Issues
Tony McNulty, Minister of State for Employment and Welfare Reform and Minister for London 


Jim Mather - Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Energy
10 November 2009
UK and Scottish Issues
Ed Miliband, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change


 
8 June 2009
UK and Scottish Issues
Barbara Follett, Minister for Culture, Creative Industries and Tourism and Regional Minister for the East of England 


Roseanna Cunningham - Minister for Environment
28 October 2009
UK and Scottish Issues
Dan Norris, Parliamentary Under Secretary for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs


Alex Neil - Minister for Housing and Communities
4 December 2009
UK and Scottish Issues
Lord McKenzie, Parliamentary Under Secretary for Communities and Local Government


 
29 October 2009
UK and Scottish Issues
David Kidney, Parliamentary Under Secretary for Energy and Climate Change


 
7 July 2009
UK and Scottish Issues
Jonathan Shaw, Minister for Disabled PeopleDavid Kidney, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Energy and Climate ChangeKevin Jones, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for DefenceHelen Goodman, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Work and PensionsJohn Healey, Minister of State for Housing and Planning


Bruce Crawford - Minister for Parliamentary Business
7 September 2009
UK and Scottish Issues
Ann McKechin, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Scotland


 
23 June 2009
Pre-cabinet presentation
Jim Murphy, Secretary of State for Scotland


 
21 May 2009
UK and Scottish Issues
Ann McKechin, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Scotland


Shona Robison - Minister for Public Health and Sport
22 October 2009
UK and Scottish Issues
Tessa Jowell, Minister of State, Cabinet Office


 
23 June 2009
UK and Scottish Issues
Jim Murphy, Secretary of State for Scotland


 
9 June 2009
UK and Scottish Issues
Gerry Sutcliffe, Minister for Sport


 
27 April 2009
UK and Scottish Issues
Dawn Primorolo, Minister of State for Public Health


 
31 March 2009
UK and Scottish Issues
Andy Burnham, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport


 
31 March 2009
UK and Scottish Issues
Gerry Sutcliffe, Minister for Sport


 
12 January 2009
UK and Scottish Issues
Ben Bradshaw, Minister of State for Health


Stewart Stevenson - Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change
13 December 2009
Copenhagen Summit
Joan Ruddock, Minister of State for Energy and Climate Change 


 
4 November 2009
Environment Council
Ed Miliband, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate 


 
21 October 2009
Environment Council 
Ed Miliband, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 


 
23 April 2009
UK and Scottish Issues
Lord Adonis, Minister of State for Transport


 
17 April 2009
British Irish Council
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath, Minister for Sustainable Development and Energy Innovation


Keith Brown - Minister for Skills and Lifelong Learning
1 December 2009
WorldSkills Ministerial Executive Group Meeting
Kevin Brennan, Minister of State for Children, Schools and Families and for Business, Innovation and Skills


 
9 July 2009
WorldSkills Ministerial Executive Group Meeting
Kevin Brennan, MP, Minister of state for Further Education, Skills, Apprenticeships and Consumer Affairs


 
9 July 2009
Ministerial Performance Review
Kevin Brennan – Minister of State for Children, Schools and Families and for Business, Innovation and SkillsIain Wright, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families Jim Knight – Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions; Minister for the South WestIan Pearson – Economic Secretary, Her Majesty’s Treasury


 
13 May 2009
Joint Ministerial Committee (Domestic)
Paul Murphy, Secretary of State for Wales Phil Woolas, Minister for Immigration, Home OfficePaul Goggins, Minister of State for Northern Ireland Ann McKechin, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Scotland Wayne David, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Wales


Maureen Watt - Minister for Schools and Skills
12/13 January 2009
Conference (Learning and Technology Forum)
Ed Balls, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and FamiliesSion Simon, Permanent Under Secretary of State for Innovation, University and Skills

Parliamentary Questions

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will provide a substantive answer to question S3W-27408, which received a holding reply on 30 September 2009.

John Swinney: A substantive answer to question S3W-27408 issued on 24 March 2010.

Public Sector Staff

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many full-time equivalent employees there were in each directorate and agency for which it is responsible as at May 2009 and how this compares with the equivalent figures for May 2007 and May 2008.

John Swinney: The following table provides information on the full-time-equivalent (FTE) number of employees in post on 31 May 2009 and equivalent figures for 31 May 2008 and 31 May 2007.

  The Scottish Government only holds this information for those Agencies to which we provide an HR function. Registers of Scotland, Scottish Prisons Service, Historic Scotland, Scottish Courts Service and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service have their own HR function and hold their own HR data and therefore have not been included in the table.

  

 
31 May 2007
31 May 2008
31 May 2009


Agencies
Accountant In Bankruptcy
114
107
121


Communities Scotland
414
0
0


Disclosure Scotland
0
0
 


Fisheries Research Services
319
311
0


General Register Office Scotland
247
282
303


Mental Health Tribunal Service
69
77
0


HM Inspectorate Education
198
205
199


National Archives of Scotland
142
154
154


Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator
35
47
52


Student Awards Agency Scotland
146
146
143


Scottish Agricultural Science Agency
151
143
0


Scottish Building Standards Agency
33
0
0


Scottish Housing Regulator
0
61
66


Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency
308
301
0


Scottish Public Pensions Agency
221
216
242


Social Work Inspection Agency
46
46
44


Transport Scotland
248
258
291


Agencies Total
2,691
2,354
1,615


SG Core
Legal & Parliamentary Services
180
0
0


Office of the Permanent Secretary
870
0
0


SE Development Department
267
0
0


SE Education Department
322
0
0


SE Environment & Rural Affairs Department
956
0
0


SE Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning Dept
431
0
0


SE Finance & Central Services Department
487
0
0


SE Health Department
356
0
0


SE Justice Department
309
0
0


DG Economy
0
703
453


DG Education
0
659
578


DG Environment
0
940
1,696


DG Finance & Corporate Services
0
0
1,056


DG Health
0
418
424


DG Justice
0
807
956


Paid Centrally Managed Staff
81
47
21


Permanent Secretary
0
921
210


SG Core Total
4,259
4,495
5,394


Grand Total
6,950
6,849
7,009



  The table shows an increase in staffing figures of 59 which can be explained as follows:

  General Register Office, Scotland: This department is showing an increase of 56 FTE staff from May 2007 due to the need to recruit additional staff to handle work associated with the 2011 census.

  Transport Scotland: This department is showing an increase of 43 FTE staff from May 2007 due to the ongoing recruitment campaign for specialist engineer posts. Several major projects have also resulted in the recruitment of staff, in particular work on the Forth Replacement Crossing, Edinburgh – Glasgow Improvement project and the M74 Upgrade.

  During this period there has been the absorption and creation of agencies as part of the Public Sector Simplification Programme. More generally, the Scottish Government’s Simplification Programme has reduced the number of public bodies from 199 to 161 with that number set to fall to around 120 by 2011. Projects already delivered through this simplification agenda are estimated to save taxpayers £127 million between 2008 and 2013, and will deliver annual recurring savings of £36 million each year thereafter, rising to over £40 million annually through proposals in the Public Services Reform Bill. That Bill includes powers that can help the process and as a result should command the cross party support of those who demand greater efficiencies.

  Between the dates of 31 May 2007 and 31 May 2009 staff from Communities Scotland, Scottish Building Standards Agency, Scottish Agricultural Science Agency, Disclosure Scotland, Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency, Fisheries Research Services and Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland have been absorbed into the Core Scottish Government DGs.

  To allow a more accurate headcount comparison, Disclosure Scotland (DS) staffing figures have been removed from the table. These staff joined the Scottish Government in October 2007 from Strathclyde Police under TUPE.

Renewable Energy

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many and what percentage of buildings occupied by it and its agencies have microgeneration technologies installed.

Jim Mather: Panels for solar water heating are currently installed at Tweedbank in Galashiels. With the estate comprising 68 buildings, where the Scottish Government are the sole or major occupier, this represents 1.5%. As part of a current refurbishment project at Saughton House in Edinburgh due to be completed in June 2010, solar thermal panels are being installed to meet some of the hot water needs of the building. Photovoltaic panels are also being included at the new Fish Veterinary and Aquaria facility currently under construction in Aberdeen. This building is due to be completed by August 2010. The addition of microgeneration at these two sites will increase this percentage to 4.4%. Previous studies in respect of specific Scottish Government buildings have been ruled out.

  The Scottish Government also continues to support renewable technologies by procuring all of the electricity required to run its buildings from renewable sources.

  Information relating to microgeneration technologies installed at buildings occupied by agencies is not held centrally.

Renewable Energy

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of the energy used in buildings occupied by it and its agencies that have microgeneration technologies installed is derived from such technologies.

Jim Mather: Information relating to energy produced by microgeneration technologies currently installed in buildings occupied by the core Scottish Government is not currently recorded separately. Panels for solar water heating are installed at Tweedbank in Galashiels and their energy output will be recorded through a Building Management System (BMS) to be installed later this year. As part of a current refurbishment project at Saughton House in Edinburgh, solar panels are being installed to meet some of the hot water needs of the building. This project is due to be completed in June 2010. At the new Fish Veterinary and Aquaria facility currently under construction in Aberdeen, photovoltaic panels will be fitted to meet some of the electricity supply needs of the building. This building is due for completion in August 2010. Energy produced at both of these buildings by microgeneration will in future be monitored through a BMS. The Scottish Government also continues to support renewable technologies by procuring all of the electricity required to run its buildings from renewable sources.

  Information relating to energy used in buildings occupied by agencies is not held centrally.

Renewable Energy

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much energy is produced by microgeneration technologies installed in buildings occupied by it and its agencies, also expressed as a percentage of the overall energy usage across the estate.

Jim Mather: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-32374 on 24 March 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

Renewable Energy

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-31315 by Jim Mather on 2 March 2010, whether all applications have been assessed by the same criteria in relation to the draw down of Wave and Tidal Energy Support Scheme (WATES) funding.

Jim Mather: Yes.

Renewable Energy

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a company can continue to draw down its Wave and Tidal Energy Support Scheme (WATES) funding following changes in the technology it is developing.

Jim Mather: A company may retain its WATES grant in circumstances where any changes to the technology in question are a clear and demonstrable evolution of the original design, or a change in the size and rated capacity of the device.

Renewable Energy

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to use any Wave and Tidal Energy Support Scheme (WATES) funding not drawn down by March 2011.

Jim Mather: Any WATES funding not drawn down by March 2011 will be available for recycling into other activities aimed at supporting the wave and tidal sector.

Renewable Energy

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that all Wave and Tidal Energy Support Scheme (WATES) funding allocations are spent by March 2011.

Jim Mather: We are and will remain in close contact with the outstanding WATES project developers to ensure that the relevant funds are drawn down in accordance with agreed project milestones.

Renewable Energy

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether funding allocated under the Wave and Tidal Energy Support Scheme (WATES) but not spent by March 2011 will be withdrawn.

Jim Mather: Funds in respect of projects granted support under the WATES scheme must be spent by March 2011. Activities beyond this point will not be eligible for WATES funding, and any unused funding will be recycled into other activities aimed at supporting the wave and tidal sector.

Renewable Energy

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements it has in place for a second round of Wave and Tidal Energy Support Scheme (WATES) funding and what criteria will be used to determine applications.

Jim Mather: A new £12 million fund to support wave and tidal energy technologies (known as WATERS) has now been launched and a call for applications is currently open.

  The fund is being administered by Scottish Enterprise. Further information is available at:

  http://www.scottish-enterprise.com/sedotcom_home/your-sector/wave-and-tidal-energy-fund.htm.

Road Accidents

Jim Tolson (Dunfermline West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many horse riders received (a) fatal, (b) serious and (c) slight injuries from accidents with (i) a car(s), (ii) an HGV(s) and (iii) an other vehicle(s) in the last five years, broken down by police force area.

Stewart Stevenson: The following tables show the number of horse riders who were injured in reported road accidents involving cars, HGVs and other vehicles. There were no riders killed during the five years from 2004 to 2008.

  

Serious Injury


Year
Police Force
Car
HGV
Other


2004
Lothian and Borders
-
-
1


Strathclyde
1
-
-


2005
Central
-
-
1


2006
Lothian and Borders
1
-
-


2008
Fife
-
1
-



  

Slight Injury


Year
Police Force
Car
HGV
Other


2005
Grampian
1
-
-


Lothian and Borders
-
-
1


Strathclyde
1
-
3


2006
Lothian and Borders
-
1
-


Strathclyde
2
-
1


2007
Lothian and Borders
2
-
-


2008
Tayside
-
-
1


Fife
-
1
-


Strathclyde
3
-
-



  Note: There were two accidents involving more than one other vehicle type. These cases are presented in both their respective categories.

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Parliament Building

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it will participate in the Earth Hour event taking place at 8.30 pm on 27 March 2010.

Alex Johnstone: The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body will participate in the Earth Hour event taking place on the 27 of March 2010. All non essential lighting in the building will be switched off. However, a number of lights must remain on at all times to comply with health and safety and fire safety requirements, as the building is occupied 24 hours a day by security personnel.